Good Things Come in Threes: WAB’s New Assistant Principals

The start of school this year was one of the busiest to date at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), but it was also one of the most successful, thanks in no small part to WAB’s three new assistant principals, all of whom have been at WAB for at least three years. The new assistant principal team consists of Murray Polglase, high school assistant principal; Marina Frias, middle school assistant principal; and Justine Smyth, elementary school assistant principal.

A native of Australia, Justine Smyth has over 20 years of experience teaching in Australia and international schools around Asia. Prior to becoming assistant principal of the elementary school, Smyth taught at WAB for three years, and has experience as an educational consultant and educational workshop leader.

Middle school assistant principal Mariana Frias has degrees in special needs and counseling ,as well as post-graduate training experience in ESOL. Frias previously taught at schools in international schools in Venezuela, her home country, as well as the Philippines, the Sultanate of Oman, and Thailand.

Murray Polglase, WAB’s new high school assistant principal, taught at WAB for four years before becoming assistant principal. Polglase, who is from Australia, has over 20 years of teaching experience.